On Mitt Romney.

Mormon President?

I quite appreciated Terry Eastland's "In 2008, Will It Be Mormon in America?" (June 6). As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who has been confronted by many who misunderstand or misinterpret aspects of the religion, I found the article to be unbiased and accurate. Those who read it will be better informed about our religion and its members, and I will refer many people to it in the future.

Certain aspects of LDS history are ugly; there is no getting around that. It is unfortunately the case that human beings who subscribe to ideals they deem perfect are far from perfect themselves. The success of Eastland's article lies in his ability to reveal the unattractive aspects of LDS history without demeaning those who follow its precepts.

Susan Stewart
Boston, MA

I have long believed Mitt Romney should receive the nomination if he decides to run; Terry Eastland's brilliant article confirms why. Out of all the possible Republican presidential candidates, Romney probably represents the best chance to capture the White House again in 2008 from both a conservative and a tactical perspective. His public speeches, television appearances, and handling of the critical issues suggest that he can inspire the party faithful and moderates alike.

In a very blue state, Romney defends conservative values and sometimes wins. I especially love his approach to Massachusetts fiscal policies, which could indeed translate well on the federal level. He knows how to attract Democrats and liberals without selling out on those core principles that unite a Republican base. Romney understands how to pursue a workable conservative agenda.

Unlike some other contenders, Romney looks and acts presidential in accordance with the greatest aspects of Republican tradition. In a tough race that may pit him against Hillary Clinton, he would quickly morph into a formidable candidate because of his blue-state credentials with red-state ideals. If given the chance, Romney can gain widespread national appeal and do for the Republicans what Ronald Reagan did for them over 20 years ago.

Anthony Vuono
Exton, PA

Mitt Romney's Mormon faith arguably could be a setback to his candidacy despite two impressive years as a center-right governor in leftist Massachusetts.

Terry Eastland briefly touches on it, but the primary reason Romney's faith is a disadvantage is the field of candidates he is likely to face in the Republican primary. For example, Kansas senator Sam Brownback would pose a formidable challenge given his status as a champion of the evangelical right for his opposition to same-sex marriage, embryonic stem cell research, and late-term abortions. Brownback enjoys broad appeal among evangelical voters who characterize these issues as top priorities.

Additionally, he is a Roman Catholic, which extends his appeal beyond evangelicals and makes the Kansan perhaps the favorite among social conservatives for the 2008 Republican nomination. His impressive record on tax relief, as well as his heroic efforts to apply pressure on the regimes of Sudan, North Korea, and Iran, will satisfy fiscal and neoconservatives alike. Brownback is a dark-horse candidate today, but he has grassroots support among the conservative base, something Romney, and others, must struggle to build. In the end, 2008 could be slightly premature for a Mormon in the White House.

Bryan Sanders
Waterville, ME

In the most recent gubernatorial race here in Arizona, leading conservative congressman Matt Salmon, very well respected and well known throughout the state, ran against our current governor, Janet "Stealth" Napolitano--"Stealth," because the news media never run a story on her, but only a positive blip here and there. Salmon seemed sure to win, until a press release revealed that he was a Mormon. As I am an active Republican and a conservative Christian, my heart sank: I had no idea Salmon was a Mormon. He was an excellent and effective congressman, always doing the right thing.

The faltering Napolitano campaign said they had nothing to do with the press release and were dismayed that religion was brought into the race. The press release was perfectly timed, with not enough time for the evangelical Christian qualms about a Mormon candidate to wane and with insufficient time for the Salmon campaign to mount a defensive, reminding constituents that he had always acted, voted, and articulated perfectly the viewpoints of evangelical Christians in Arizona.

The result? The evangelical Christian voting bloc temporarily lost its good sense and memory and followed their feelings: Many did not even bother to vote. A key strategic calculation made by a faltering campaign proved most useful, and I am sure it won them the election. Thus, I offer this advice to the Republican party: A Mormon or a Catholic candidate would not be wise, even if he is perfect as far as voting records and principles are concerned.

DAN MARTINOVICH
Phoenix, AZ